Reformatting Hard Drive Without having OS backup CD

[WeirdClayJisKOO]

I just bought a new laptop. It came with Windows XP Media Center Edition, but the hard drive is formatted funny. it's a 120gig HD, but it's partitioned into 2 60gig sections, and it's formated as FAT32.

I want to reformat it as a single 12gig partition, and formated it as NTFS.

The problem is, microsoft no longer provides the OS backup cd. (the laptop came with absolutely no CDs)

Is there a way I can do this, without losing the OS?

[DaveC2003]

That is extremely unusual why you did not get a CD for the OS.

I am sure you should have a copy incase of problems occur. Speak to the dealer where you got the laptop, never came across a laptop with no OS cd.

DaveC2003

[WeirdClayJisKOO]

no computers come with a backup cd anymore unless you buy it extra.

it did come with acer eRecovory software. would this work to make a backup of the os?

[tones_ie]

U could get software to RESIZE the partition from 2 60's to a single 120 gig.....BUT be carefull that the second partiton dosent have the "Restore" setup on it...some pcs ship with NO recover cd BUT have the files installed on a second partition....

Some free software >>

Ranish Partition Manager
http://www.ranish.com/part/
Partition Manager is a freeware program that partitions hard disks. It will help you to install and dualboot Linux and multiple copies of Windows. For example, it will let you to run Win ME, Win 2k, and Linux on a single box. Also, using Partition Manager you can copy, move, and resize disk partitions.

Partition Resizer
http://www.zeleps.com/
New features include:
Int13 extensions support allows handling of disks up to 2TB (2048GB) of size.
New Resizing/Moving engine with simpler inerface. Move and resize your partitions in one step.
Transparent extended partition resizing (no more confusion with extended partitions).
Command line parameters for accessing advanced options (read-only operation etc.).

Partition Resizer is a small DOS executable, which requires no installation, and can perform, all these tasks in a short while, giving you the opportunity to re-arrange your partitions safely, quickly and fuss-free.

3D Partition Manager
http://www.sofotex.com/3D-Partition-...oad_L1884.html
3D Partition Manager Publisher's Description:
Partition Manager - create, delete, resize partitions. Format and resize FAT-16 and FAT-32 file systems. Advanced Boot Manager - select active partition at the boot time, boot from the second hard drive. Hide/unhide partitions. Create up to 31 primary partitions on a single hard drive


I personally prefer and use Acronis Disk Director Suite....but its not free....

[accentstencil]

There should be a recovery partition on your hard drive.I recently bought a HP Media Center and it came without CD but has a recovery partition on the hard drive.

[avman]

You dont need any software its all in XP for you

here's what you need to do.

You need to backup any data in the 2 partitons, data in the 2nd partition will be removed form the laptop

1. convert the c: drive to NTFS
2. delete the d: ?? drive off the laptop leaving the 120gb drive with a ntfs partiton and free space next to it.
3. Boot the PC into safe mode.
4 at a command prompt type "diskpart"
5. select the c: volume
6. expand the c: into the free space should take no more than a couple of minutes.

Job done

Hope it helps

Jon

[WeirdClayJisKOO]

ok. thanks everyone. I don't know it i'll end up doing it though because i just realized that the laptop has Acer Empowering technology which will only run of FAT32